But in recent years the company has faced massive debt, nuclear reactor defects and cost overruns at nuclear plants in France and Britain running into the billions of euros. In a speech, Ms Borne said: “I am confirming to you today that the State intends to control 100 per cent of EDF’s capital. “We must secure our sovereignty in the face of the war (in Ukraine) and the looming colossal challenges.” But Dr Paul Dorfman, a fellow at SPRU University of Sussex, dismissed the idea that the move was due to anything other than EDF’s debt problems and nuclear reactor defects. In a tweet, he described the plan as a “desperate measure by Macron”. Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “The real reasons behind the French government’s nationalization of the French nuclear company EDF: Half of EDF’s French nuclear reactors are offline. “EDF is already hugely in debt and faces a huge bill of up to €100bn (£85bn) to maintain its aging nuclear fleet and EDF’s flagship EPR reactor is cost prohibitive and overdue everywhere it is built.” In addition to its debts, EDF has faced problems with aging reactors after experts warned Mr Macron of major corrosion safety problems at EDF’s nuclear power plants in France as cracks were found in some nuclear reactors. Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr Bernard Laponche, the co-author of a recent study into EDF’s reactors warned that at many of these plants, cracks in the cooling systems could cause catastrophic accidents. READ MORE: Macron faces Fukushima-style horror accident as EDF reactors crack
